A mother’s recipe

For this month’s Food Chain workshop, chef in residence Kawther Luay will be sharing how to make Marylin's Plaints, or Gisayeb Marleen in Arabic - an original recipe from her own mother in all its unapologetic busy mum shortcuts glory. These savoury mince meat plaited pastries frequented Kawther's family home's dinner tables on special occasions; foil wrapped batches on standby in the freezer, ready to lessen the burden of last-minute hosting.

A note from Kawther -

These pastries became a trademark of my mother’s; our guests would look forward to encountering the buttery braids again, tidily encasing a hearty beef and bean filling. Her not so secret touch is - brace yourself - a can of baked beans! They effortlessly meld with the spiced mince and rich tomato puree, mellowing out that sweet aftertaste we’ve all come to associate with the canned staple.

We (her kitchen curious children) have each taken the simple pastry braiding technique and adapted the filling according to our individual tastes, adjusting and tinkering or going completely rogue - from spinach and feta filled plaits, to curried vegetable editions.

We'll be hosting this Food Chain workshop in Square Deal - our first in person Food Chain in a year and a half! Limited numbers, booking essential. Tickets are £5 per person, payable on the day in cash.*

Shopping list and recipe available here.

*If you'd like to attend but can't afford this price, please let us know!

About Food Chain
Which rich culinary backgrounds do we have resident in our own community? Come along to our monthly group cookalong to learn someone else's recipes of home. Together we'll learn about each other's cultural backgrounds as we cook.